Egypt national team coach Hossam El-Badry has called up six foreign-based players for the games against Kenya and Comoros in the 2022 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, including Galatasaray's in-form striker Mostafa Mohamed and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. The Pharaohs are scheduled to face Kenya away from home in the 5th round of Group G games on 25 March, four days before hosting Comoros in the 6th round at Cairo international stadium. According to a statement by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) on Sunday, the players who were called up ahead of the upcoming African clashes are star winger Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Ittihad Jeddah's defender Ahmed Hegazi, winger Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan of Aston Villa, Arsenal's midfielder Mohamed Elneny, striker Ahmed 'Kouka' Hassan of Olympiacos FC, and Galatasaray's in-form striker Mostafa Mohamed. "We sent official letters to the teams of our foreign-based players according to FIFA's agenda be ready ahead of the trip to Nairobi on 23 March," Egypt national team director Mohamed Barakat said. Meanwhile, Aston Villa left-back Ahmed Elmohamady, PAOK winger Amr Warda, and Yeni Malatyaspor left-back karim hafez are out of Egypt's squad. Under the guidance of El-Badry, Egypt will start their preparatory camp for the 2022 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on 20 March with participation of the domestic players squad. Egypt, record seven-time African champions, are in the driving seat of Group G ranking with 8 points, tied with second placed Comoros, and 5 points ahead of 3rd placed Kenya, while Togo lie in the bottom with only one point. The Pharaohs were held to draws by minnows Kenya and Comoros in their opening qualifying games for the next Africa Cup of Nations last year but they returned to winning ways with the two victories over Togo in the 3rd and 4th round of the group stage respectively last November. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
